Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith joined an exclusive club Saturday when he scored against the Detroit Red Wings. That makes Smith one of just 11 goalies in NHL history to be credited with a goal, and one of just six to do it by actually shooting the puck into the other team’s net. So today, let’s take a look back at those other historic goalie goals, along with a few notable near-misses.

February 18, 1905: Fred Brophy goes end-to-end

OK, this one isn’t technically an NHL goal since it predates the formation of the league, but CAHL teams were eligible to compete for the Stanley Cup, so I think it deserves a mention. Brophy was in goal for Montreal Westmount in a brawl-filled contest that saw most of the skaters ejected. Frustrated over a lack of support in a game that Montreal would eventually lose 17-5, Brophy decided to take matters into his own hands, skating the puck the length of the ice and beating Quebec Bulldogs counterpart Paddy Moran. This was well before any rule was in place against goalies carrying the puck over the red line, so Brophy’s move, while exceedingly rare, was legal.

Brophy would score again under similar circumstances in 1906, against the Montreal Victorias. For some reason, neither goal is currently available on YouTube.

November 28, 1979: The Islanders’ Billy Smith makes history

Smith gets credit for the first goalie goal in NHL history on a technicality, as he’s the last Islander to touch the puck before Colorado puts it into its own net (Rockies goalie Bill McKenzie had gone to the bench on a delayed penalty.)

I’ve always loved the way the Rockies defenseman digs the puck out of the net and looks around as if he’s not sure if the goal actually counts or whether he’s supposed to just keep playing.